California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1973

Introduced by Assembly Member Roger Hernández

February 19, 2014

An act to amend Section 6700 of the Government Code, relating to holidays.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1973, as introduced, Roger Hernández. State holidays: Native American Day.

Existing law recognizes various holidays. Existing law requires the Governor to proclaim annually the 4th Friday in September to be Native American Day.

This bill would recognize the 4th Friday in September as a state holiday to be known as Native American Day.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

The Legislature finds and declares the following:

(a) As the original peoples of our nation and state, Native
Americans have provided extensive historical contributions to the
State of California. For more than 12,000 years, Native Americans
have inhabited, preserved, and cultivated this land that ultimately
became the Golden State. To this day, several iconic regions in
California, from Lake Tahoe to Malibu, are named after native
origin.

(b) The resiliency of Native American peoples is a profound
statement of their strength. Even in light of egregious injustices
and genocide, Native Americans have remained a constant
presence, with California being home to the largest population of
Native Americans in the country’s 50 states. In honor of the
contributions and endurance of Native Americans, the Legislature
declares the fourth Friday of September to be the state holiday of
Native American Day.

SEC. 2.  

Section 6700 of the Government Code is amended to
read:

6700.  

The holidays in this state are:

(a) Every Sunday.

(b) January 1st.

(c) The third Monday in January, known as “Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Day.”

(d) February 12th, known as “Lincoln Day.”

(e) The third Monday in February.

(f) March 31st known as “Cesar Chavez Day.”

(g) The last Monday in May.

(h) July 4th.

(i) The first Monday in September.

(j) September 9th, known as “Admission Day.”

begin insert

(k) The fourth Friday in September, known as “Native American
Day.”

end insert begin delete

(k)

end delete

begin insert (l) end insert  The second Monday in October, known as “Columbus Day.”

begin delete

(l) 

end delete

begin insert (m) end insert begin insert   end insert November 11th, known as “Veterans Day.”

begin delete

(m)

end delete

begin insert (n) end insert  December 25th.

begin delete

(n)

end delete

begin insert (o) end insert  Good Friday from 12 noon until 3 p.m.

begin delete

(o)

end delete

begin insert (p) end insert  Every day appointed by the President or Governor for a
public fast, thanksgiving, or holiday.

Except for the Thursday in November appointed as Thanksgiving
Day, this subdivision and subdivisions (c) and (f) shall not apply
to a city, county, or district unless made applicable by charter, or
by ordinance or resolution of the governing body thereof.

If the provisions of this section are in conflict with the provisions
of a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Chapter
12 (commencing with Section 3560) of Division 4 of Title 1, the
memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further
legislative action, except that if those provisions of a memorandum
of understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions
shall not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in
the annual Budget Act.